LEXINGTON, Ky. – The W volleyball team has garnered the prestigious Team Academic Award from the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) for the 2025-26 campaign, as announced. The Owls' program has earned the AVCA honor for seven consecutive seasons, dating back to 2020. 

"I am very proud of the ladies that make up our volleyball team," MUW Director of Athletics Buddy Foster said. "Winning the AVCA Team Academic Award for a seventh-straight year shows the lofty goals our volleyball program has set for itself in all aspects. It also says a lot about the makeup of the type of individuals who comprise our roster, year-in and year-out, handling both the rigors of athletics and a full load in the classroom with a high degree of success."
 
Volleyball programs from across the country continue to enjoy widespread success off the court as 1,432 collegiate and high school volleyball teams earned the 2026 AVCA Team Academic Award by maintaining a year-long grade-point average of at least 3.3 on a 4.0 scale (or 4.1 on a 5.0 scale).

"It comes as no surprise to see our sport have more than 1,400 teams earn the AVCA Team Academic Award again this season," said AVCA CEO Jaime Gordon. "We are grateful for the dedication of the coaches and players who make both classroom and on-court success the lifeblood of their programs."

The Owls' 2025-26 roster produced a 3.60 GPA for the year. It also had a total of four SLIAC All-Academic Team selections, four College Sports Communicators Academic All-District honorees, and nine Athletic Director Honor Roll placements.

About the American Volleyball Coaches Association
The association's mission is to advance the sport of volleyball with AVCA coaches at the epicenter of leadership, advocacy, and professional development. The membership includes more than 10,000 collegiate, professional, high school, club, and youth volleyball coaches—primarily in the United States. The AVCA represents women's volleyball, men's volleyball, and beach volleyball coaches, and works to increase exposure and recognition for the sport of volleyball.